Weeds
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In the biblical context, weeds are often used metaphorically to represent sin, evil, or the challenges that believers face in a fallen world. The imagery of weeds is prevalent in both the Old and New Testaments, serving as a powerful symbol of the spiritual and moral struggles inherent in human life.

Old Testament References

The concept of weeds appears early in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the curse following the Fall of Man. In Genesis 3:17-18 , God tells Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field." Here, thorns and thistles, akin to weeds, symbolize the consequences of sin and the resulting hardship in cultivating the earth.

Weeds also appear in the wisdom literature, where they are used to illustrate the consequences of laziness and neglect. Proverbs 24:30-31 states, "I went past the field of a sluggard and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down." This passage uses the imagery of an overgrown field to convey the spiritual and practical decay that results from a lack of diligence.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently uses agricultural metaphors, including weeds, to teach spiritual truths. One of the most notable parables is the Parable of the Weeds, found in Matthew 13:24-30 . In this parable, Jesus describes a farmer who sows good seed in his field, but while everyone is sleeping, an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. When the plants sprout, the weeds also appear. The farmer instructs his servants to let both grow together until the harvest, at which time the weeds will be collected and burned.

This parable is explained by Jesus in Matthew 13:36-43 , where He identifies the field as the world, the good seed as the sons of the kingdom, and the weeds as the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sows the weeds is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age. This teaching emphasizes the coexistence of good and evil in the world and the ultimate judgment that will separate the righteous from the wicked.

Theological Implications

Weeds, as depicted in the Bible, serve as a reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and the spiritual vigilance required of believers. They illustrate the reality of spiritual warfare and the presence of evil influences that seek to undermine the growth of God's kingdom. The imagery of weeds also underscores the importance of discernment and perseverance in the Christian life, as believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith amidst the challenges and temptations of the world.

In summary, the biblical portrayal of weeds is rich with spiritual significance, offering insights into the nature of sin, the reality of spiritual conflict, and the hope of ultimate redemption and purification at the end of the age.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WEEDS

wedz (cuph, "a weed" (Jonah 2:5)).

See FLAG; COCKLE; RED SEA.

Greek
4846. sumpnigo -- to choke
... Verb Transliteration: sumpnigo Phonetic Spelling: (soom-pnee'-go) Short Definition:
I choke utterly, crowd upon Definition: I choke utterly, as weeds do plants ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4846.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
890. boshah -- stinking or noxious weeds
... 889, 890. boshah. 891 . stinking or noxious weeds. Transliteration: boshah
Phonetic Spelling: (bosh-aw') Short Definition: stinkweed. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/890.htm - 6k

6941. qedorannith -- as mourners
... mournfully. Adverb from qadar; blackish ones (ie In sackcloth); used adverbially,
in mourning weeds -- mournfully. see HEBREW qadar. 6940, 6941. ...
/hebrew/6941.htm - 6k

7057. qimmos -- perhaps thistles
... nettles. Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition perhaps thistles NASB
Word Usage nettles (1), thistles (1), weeds (1). nettle. ...
/hebrew/7057.htm - 6k

7898. shayith -- thornbushes
... thorns. From shiyth; scrub or trash, ie Wild growth of weeds or briers (as if put
on the field) -- thorns. see HEBREW shiyth. 7897, 7898. shayith. 7899 . ...
/hebrew/7898.htm - 6k

5488. suph -- reeds, rushes
... Word Origin probably of foreign origin Definition reeds, rushes NASB Word Usage
red* (24), reeds (2), rushes (1), weeds (1). flag, Red sea, weed. ...
/hebrew/5488.htm - 6k

7219. rosh -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom
... from rosh Definition (bitter and poisonous herb) venom NASB Word Usage bitterness
(2), gall (1), poison (4), poisoned (2), poisonous (2), poisonous weeds (1). ...
/hebrew/7219.htm - 6k

Library

Absolution.
... monsters of old, from whose dissevered neck the blood sprung forth and formed fresh
heads, multiplied and indestructible; or like the weeds, which, extirpated ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/v absolution.htm

Of True Fasting and Its Reward: Also of Purity of Body.
... And when he was gone, the slave took and staked the vineyard; and when he had finished
the staking of the vines, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude fifth of true fasting.htm

Ignorance of the Seed Makes no Difference.
... He has led your son the other way." The idea that a father is to let his children
run wild! Nature alone never brings forth anything but weeds. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter vi ignorance of the.htm

The Sluggard's Garden
... The description of the sluggard's garden brings into view two things, the abundant,
because unchecked, growth of profitless weeds, and the broken down stone ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggards garden.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... But there the kindred ends. A few green weeds, looking just like English
ones, peep up through the gravel. Weeds, all over the world ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

The Religion of Man
... Now just so do many people smooth down and harrow their souls with confessions and
penances and religious doings, but the evil roots of noisome weeds are left ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxi the religion of.htm

Warning.
... Weeds always seem to grow and spread more rapidly than good seed. The longer they
live, the firmer hold the weeds are gaining. Delay is dangerous. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter viii warning.htm

Asa
... We have embodied this truth in a familiar proverb""Ill weeds grow apace." If we
neglect a garden, we are soon confronted with weeds, not with flowers. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/asa.htm

God's Curse on Sin.
... or a field, sowing, planting, eradicating, and the growths of flower or fruit improve
in proportion to your care; but leave it to itself and the weeds choke it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/xiv gods curse on sin.htm

Sowing the Seed.
... away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns and weeds,
and they sprang up with it and choked it. But other fell on ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/sowing the seed.htm

Thesaurus
Weeds (14 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia WEEDS. wedz (cuph, "a weed" (Jonah 2:5)). See FLAG;
COCKLE; RED SEA. Multi-Version Concordance Weeds (14 Occurrences). ...
/w/weeds.htm - 10k

Darnel (9 Occurrences)
... Darnel (9 Occurrences). Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and
sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. (WEB WEY DBY YLT). ...
/d/darnel.htm - 9k

Weed (3 Occurrences)
... worn in token of grief; a mourning garment or badge; as, he wore a weed on his hat;
especially, in the plural, mourning garb, as of a woman; as, a widow's weeds...
/w/weed.htm - 8k

Cockle (1 Occurrence)
... Occurs only in Job 31:40 (marg., "noisome weeds"), where it is the rendering of
a Hebrew word (b'oshah) which means "offensive," "having a bad smell ...
/c/cockle.htm - 8k

Wheat (56 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEY). Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed
darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. (WEB ...
/w/wheat.htm - 28k

Fallow-ground
... fallow ground" (Hosea 10:12; Jeremiah 4:3) means, "Do not sow your seed among thorns",
ie, break off all your evil habits; clear your hearts of weeds, in order ...
/f/fallow-ground.htm - 7k

Fallowground
... fallow ground" (Hosea 10:12; Jeremiah 4:3) means, "Do not sow your seed among thorns",
ie, break off all your evil habits; clear your hearts of weeds, in order ...
/f/fallowground.htm - 7k

Flag (30 Occurrences)
... rendering of the Hebrew suph_, a word which occurs frequently in connection with
_yam; as yam suph, to denote the "Red Sea" (qv) or the sea of weeds (as this ...
/f/flag.htm - 18k

Fallow (5 Occurrences)
... n.) The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it for a season; as, summer fallow,
properly conducted, has ever been found a sure method of destroying weeds...
/f/fallow.htm - 9k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds
of the field." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Resources
What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed? | GotQuestions.org

If our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? | GotQuestions.org

Weeds: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Weeds (14 Occurrences)

Matthew 13:25
but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:26
But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:27
The servants of the householder came and said to him,'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'
(See RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:29
"But he said,'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field."
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:38
the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Matthew 13:40
As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Exodus 2:5
And a daughter of Pharaoh cometh down to bathe at the River, and her damsels are walking by the side of the River, and she seeth the ark in the midst of the weeds, and sendeth her handmaid, and she taketh it,
(YLT)

Job 31:40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
(See JPS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 24:31
And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.
(See NIV)

Hosea 10:4
They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Jonah 2:5
The waters surrounded me, even to the soul. The deep was around me. The weeds were wrapped around my head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Weeds

Related Terms

Early (157 Occurrences)

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Weeks (17 Occurrences)

Morrow (113 Occurrences)

Seventy (97 Occurrences)

Easter (1 Occurrence)

Dawn (70 Occurrences)

Magdalene (12 Occurrences)

Magdala (13 Occurrences)

After (10866 Occurrences)

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)

Time (7245 Occurrences)

Passover (81 Occurrences)

Tomb (70 Occurrences)

Morning (264 Occurrences)

Overspreading (1 Occurrence)

Late (24 Occurrences)

Extermination (6 Occurrences)

Desolator (1 Occurrence)

Passion (82 Occurrences)

Protection (19 Occurrences)

Preparation (28 Occurrences)

Consummation (2 Occurrences)

Appalment (10 Occurrences)

Later (89 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Astrology

Consumption (20 Occurrences)

Olives (30 Occurrences)

Assembled (186 Occurrences)

Meal (288 Occurrences)

Decreed (33 Occurrences)

Shewbread (16 Occurrences)

Risen (169 Occurrences)

Wing (18 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Weeds (14 Occurrences)

Malchiel (3 Occurrences)

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)

Astronomy

Synoptic

Confirm (39 Occurrences)

Gain (142 Occurrences)

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)

Songs (100 Occurrences)

Agriculture

Wholly (67 Occurrences)

Fast (157 Occurrences)

Seven (404 Occurrences)

Song (207 Occurrences)

Ready (451 Occurrences)

Determined (89 Occurrences)

Causes (89 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Nymphas (1 Occurrence)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Octave (3 Occurrences)

Outside (215 Occurrences)

Joined (146 Occurrences)

Locked (19 Occurrences)

Last (1087 Occurrences)

Gains (19 Occurrences)

Grave (128 Occurrences)

Gatherings (9 Occurrences)

Warden (8 Occurrences)

Income (7 Occurrences)

Intended (38 Occurrences)

Intending (24 Occurrences)

Firstfruits (37 Occurrences)

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)

False.

Fulfilleth (3 Occurrences)

Treasuring (5 Occurrences)

Tongues (67 Occurrences)

Talked (79 Occurrences)

Turtle (5 Occurrences)

Weeding: General Scriptures Concerning
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